Kevin joined the organisation eight years ago and was previously Arts and Wellbeing Manager with Sense Scotland since 2006, supporting a Scotland-wide participation in the arts for disabled people with communication needs. Kevin managed the development of a range of arts projects including Threads and Found in Translation, projects exploring cultural diversity and disability, and Leaving New Craigs, a life history project in Inverness for people leaving the last long stay hospital in Scotland. He managed a national arts and wellbeing team and supported the establishment of a strong creative programme in the TouchBase, a new inclusive base for people and communities supported by Sense Scotland in the south side of Glasgow.

Kevin, who has a degree in theatre and film from Roehampton University and who undertook postgraduate studies in Arts Management and Policy at Birkbeck University of London, is also a trustee for Scottish Prison Arts Network and chair of Dementia Friendly Forth Valley, as part of a Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) programme. Previous posts include freelance editor and administration roles with key national disability arts organisation, Shape Arts and public sector roles in Arts Development and as Business Manager, Creative Academy, Slough Borough Council, supporting a multi-million pound EQUAL creative industries inclusion programme. He also has experience of managing Music 4 Slough, a Youth Music Action Zone.

Sarah Pearson – Artistic Programmer

After graduating with a BA Honours in Art and Design at Gray’s School of Art, where Sarah specialised in jewellery and ceramics, she then worked as a community artist with the Arts in Fife, latterly becoming team manager.

In 1998 she joined Artlink Central as a sessional artist and, as the organisation developed, became a Project Support Worker, and then an Artistic programmer. She currently leads on development of the NHS Forth Valley arts and health programme, specifically with older people and adults with disabilities.

Highlights have included:

• Composition writing and public performance with the BT Ensemble and Paul Rissmann

• Initiating an artist mentoring and training programme, Seasoned’, for artists working inclusively with people with a diagnosis of dementia

• Creating and managing a multi arts programme about currency management issues with adults with learning disability in partnership with Clydesdale Bank, winning the UK Arts and Business award for arts and disabilities

David McQuatt – General Manager

David McQuatt is an accomplished and highly experienced manager and has worked extensively in retail and management positions in arts and healthcare; specialising in Finance, Strategy and HR.

David also possesses a strong background in visual arts practice, gaining his BA(Hons) in Drawing and Painting from Edinburgh College of Art, travelling on a scholarship via the Andrew Grant Bequest Travel Scholarship for Humanities to Amsterdam and undertaking an Erasmus international exchange award to the Akademie der Bildenden Kunste, Munich.

David has also assumed the role of Lead Artist in a number of visual arts projects supporting older people in long-term care, working directly with individuals possessing a range of health conditions (e.g. dementia and Alzheimer’s).

Robin Anderson - Administrator

Robin began his career at the Scottish Association for Mental Health in 1997 in the Policy and Information Team managing a National Helpline for people with mental health problems. He also campaigned for the rights of people with mental health problems against stigma.

In 1999 Robin was employed as the Parliamentary Officer for Richard Simpson, MSP and worked in the Scottish Parliament supporting the busy workload of an MSP. This included running an MSP’s office in the Parliament engaging in Parliamentary Business and writing parliamentary motions and speeches, liaising with the media and the Scottish Government. In 2006 Robin was employed as Development Officer for the British Trust for Ornithology in its Scottish office developing the profile of the organisation in the media and at a grass roots level. He organised four national conferences; in Birnam, Inverness, Stirling and Glasgow.

Robin joined Artlink Central in 2012, supporting the team with contracts and financial processes of the organisation and assisting with marketing and fundraising. Robin also works for the Scottish Prison Arts Network as a Coordinator, developing the growth and sustainability of the organisation with fundraising, running events and workshops.